Someone remind me why anything that happens in fucking Iowa matters

[Keith P]

I'm still trying to figure that out.

"As of 2006, Iowa has an estimated population of 2,982,085"

"New York is the most populous city in the United States, with an estimated 2005 population of 8,213,839"

"By 2007, California's population has reached 37,700,000"

"Texas (IPA: /?t?ks?s/) is a state geographically located in the South Central United States. With an area of 261,797 square miles (678,050 km²) and a population of 23.5 million in 254 counties"

[Damnsammit]

Meh, it's the start of the caucus votes, and one of the few states
that actually matter in the electoral college system of the US.

Repbublicans will always win Texas and others.

Democrats will always win most of the New England states.

Republicans and Democrats generally only care about a handful of states and getting their votes.

Those states are the "close-call" states who aren't typical Red or Blue states. Winning in Iowa and those other states (I forget which ones they are but I think Illinois is one too) gives a projected outcome of how they will vote in the 2008 General Election. The little states matter the most sometimes.

I'm probably wrong, but thats what I get out of it.

[-m-]

I was asking myself the exact same thing the other day.

[Ash]

It's important because it sets the stage for the primaries for the rest of the country. People tend to vote for candidates that get more exposure in the media, so in order to get your campaign off on the right foot, it's imperative that you succeed in the Iowa Caucus. Two of the republican candidates dropped out of the race shortly after the results were in. Iowa and New Hampshire set the stage for the primaries for the rest of the country and are usually good indicators on who the front runners for the nomination will be.

that's why.

[reason]

Americans as a whole have no desire for delay of gratification... we want to know everything right now. So this is kinda like a teaser movie trailer.

[Keith P]

Originally Posted by Ash

It's important because it sets the stage for the primaries for the rest of the country. People tend to vote for candidates that get more exposure in the media, so in order to get your campaign off on the right foot, it's imperative that you succeed in the Iowa Caucus. Two of the republican candidates dropped out of the race shortly after the results were in. Iowa and New Hampshire set the stage for the primaries for the rest of the country and are usually good indicators on who the front runners for the nomination will be.

that's why.

I think you missed my point though. That a state with such a small population like Iowa's dictates the course of the election for the rest of the country seems rediculous. It seems influential states should be the ones where the majority of Americans live.

[Alexis Gold]

It's still people so it still counts.

If the country was completely split in HALF their count would be the deciding vote, but I know what ya mean.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Keith P

I think you missed my point though. That a state with such a small population like Iowa's dictates the course of the election for the rest of the country seems rediculous. It seems influential states should be the ones where the majority of Americans live.

welcome to federalism.......


NY TX CA FL OH and MI (I think) are sufficient to carry a Presidential election... give the small states some pull too

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by Ash

It's important because it sets the stage for the primaries for the rest of the country. People tend to vote for candidates that get more exposure in the media, so in order to get your campaign off on the right foot, it's imperative that you succeed in the Iowa Caucus. Two of the republican candidates dropped out of the race shortly after the results were in. Iowa and New Hampshire set the stage for the primaries for the rest of the country and are usually good indicators on who the front runners for the nomination will be.

that's why.

that gives a good answer to asking the results of the Caucus, but it doesn't explain why...

[PETA]

Originally Posted by MicahB

that gives a good answer to asking the results of the Caucus, but it doesn't explain why...

because people are drawn to the first results of any contest, test, exam etc etc... "early indicators"

if the caucus had been held in Timbuktu it'd have the same impact...

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by xian

because people are drawn to the first results of any contest, test, exam etc etc... "early indicators"

if the caucus had been held in Timbuktu it'd have the same impact...

I hear Timbuktu exports some great Timbuktu White.

Much cleaner than China White.

[PETA]

do they ever

[umalak_]

Originally Posted by xian

if the caucus had been held in Timbuktu it'd have the same impact...

I expected more from you xian. Timbuktu isn't in the U.S. and therefore they can't hold a caucus there and thus it wouldn't have the same impact.

sheesh, and you graduated college and everything.

[Adam D]

Not only is Iowa the "early indicator" but since it's a swing state it carries importance all the way through to the national election.